Iowa Blues - Breed thread and discussion

[IowaBlueCurt]

Snowpetals, your Iowa Blue pullet looks amazing! It's exciting to see such a nice colored bird. Keep us posted on how she develops. Her leg color is spot on, and are her eyes dark? I can't really tell from the picture.

 

[Hurley]

She is very lovely, I agree. I second wanting to see photos of her as she matures. Gorgeous.

 

[WVDan44]

Four and a half week old chicks

 

[WVDan44]

Here is my weekend hatch!
My birchens.........I ended up with 18 birchens, 7 silver penciled, and 6 SP rock crosses. A very exciting hatch indeed!!!

Man, I'd consider doing something illegal to have some sps like those and the crosses. Nice job Mr. Curt. Don't worry, I'm 800 miles away so I won't be chicknapping your sps!

Honest!

 

[IowaBlueCurt]

Dan- I've got a feeling with that nice silver pullet you've got, it won't be long before you're hatching silver batches of much higher numbers! When our birds grow up, someone here will have to send you a silver male so you can hatch till your heart is content! haha

 

[IowaBlueCurt]

Thanks for sharing those pics Dan! Your silver pullet looks amazing and is coming along perfectly! Nice leg color and great eye color! It's exciting to see birds of this color showing up, and it's exciting to think we're active in saving this breed from extinction! While the birchen color has been growing in popularity, the original color is nearly extinct! But, I've got a feeling it won't be that way for long!!!!

 

[WVDan44]

Dan- I've got a feeling with that nice silver pullet you've got, it won't be long before you're hatching silver batches of much higher numbers! When our birds grow up, someone here will have to send you a silver male so you can hatch till your heart is content! haha

Oh be still, foolish heart! That would be a fine day! I'm going to hold you to it IBCurt, but hurry, I ain't gettin' any younger and that's the truth...

 

[WVDan44]

Thanks for sharing those pics Dan! Your silver pullet looks amazing and is coming along perfectly! Nice leg color and great eye color! It's exciting to see birds of this color showing up, and it's exciting to think we're active in saving this breed from extinction! While the birchen color has been growing in popularity, the original color is nearly extinct! But, I've got a feeling it won't be that way for long!!!! a

Thanks for the SP critique. How does my Birchen K seem to be coming, compared to what you're seeing? I have 2 birchen Ks and 2 birchen Ps and the SP P. All I have to compare to are you guy's photos, all of which makes me awful jealous and causes me to plan and scheme to figure out how soon I can get some like yours! I just need to build more coops first! Lawsy, I've had some other birds living in my van for five weeks whilst I build their pens. They are lovin' life cuz they get to be out in a chicken tractor all day, then get put up in their "penthouse" in separate crates which they seem to really love. To tell you truly, it's starting to smell a bit gamey in my van LOL. The Missus is looking at me with sidelong glances of late; she thinks I'm a bit off course. LOL

 

[karimw]

I think your Birchens look good! All that brown should molt out, as well as any white wing feathers they currently have. Keep an eye on your SP though, I have had them fool me. One of my yellow chicks sprouted pointy saddle feathers all the sudden, but he still doesn't have a bigger comb than the one I know is a pullet.

 

[IowaBlueCurt]

It looks like your Birchens are going to have some nice lacing when they obtain their adult plumage. Kari can verify based on the pictures. We're pushing in the Standard Committee, to shoot for a heavier lacing on the birchen birds than what we're currently seeing. When the standard is done, this will help out a lot in terms of understanding where your birds are compared to other stock. We're currently working on the silver penciled hen, and then to follow with the silver penciled cock. Once they are done, we'll start with the birchen birds. But it looks like (based on conversations with everyone on the commitee) that we'll be aiming for a solid white head on the birchen hen with much white on the hackles. Also, lacing to extend down her breast.........these aren't set in stone descriptions, but will give you an idea of where it looks like we are heading.